Nov. 4--GRUNDY CENTER -- A psychiatrist testified Tuesday that Michelle Kehoe didn't understand right from wrong when she killed her 2-year-old son, Seth, and injured her other son, Sean, now 7, in October 2008.

Dr. William Logan said Kehoe, 36, of Coralville, suffered from major depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, was obsessive-compulsive and had suicidal tendencies.

Logan, a defense witness, admitted under cross examination that Kehoe told other doctors when she drove her car into the Iowa River with Seth and Sean inside in December 2007 that it was an accident, not a suicide attempt.

Testimony wrapped up early Tuesday in Grundy County District Court because the last defense witness couldn't testify until today. The trial will continue at 9 a.m. and closing arguments could start this afternoon.

Kehoe, charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder and child endangerment causing serious injury, is accused of slashing the boys' throats. Seth died from his injuries; Sean survived.

Logan said Kehoe has suffered from depression since 1996. He said she was molested by her stepfather and stepbrother as a young girl and felt betrayed by her mother for the assaults.

Kehoe tried to kill herself more than once over the last 10 years, Logan said. She drank antifreeze in one attempt and cut her leg artery in another.

During these times, doctors tried different antidepressants on her and even about 44 electrical shock treatments, Logan said.

Logan said she developed post-traumatic stress disorder after she drove her car off the road into the icy waters of the Iowa River in late 2007.

She told police and doctors she reached down to get a pacifier and went off the road, but she told Logan it was a suicide attempt.

According to testimony, Kehoe started having panic attacks after the incident and told her cousin it might have been better if she died then.

Assistant Attorney General Andy Prosser attempted to get Logan to say he had no basis for the diagnosis of post-traumatic stress, except for Kehoe's claims.

Kehoe felt guilty for almost killing the boys and putting the men who rescued them in danger, Logan said. She also thought her children might be better off dead instead of turning out like her. Kehoe realized her thoughts didn't make sense and asked to be put back on medication, but the dosage she was taking was too low to help her, he said. Logan said her irrational thoughts grew stronger and she started making the plan to kill herself and her children.

She purchased a hunting knife and duct tape and came up with a story about strange man who would kidnap them.

In his opinion, Logan said, Kehoe couldn't distinguish right from wrong when she killed Seth and hurt Sean. In earlier testimony, Dr. Dennis Klein, deputy state medical examiner, said Seth probably suffered for minutes, not moments, after Kehoe slashed his neck, cutting through veins that resulted in severe blood loss and caused his death. There were two cuts on his neck, one superficial and the other one deep.

Klein said a bruise and some abrasions on Seth's forehead indicated he was hit with or fell on a firm object. Those didn't cause his death, but they happened at the same time as the neck injuries.

-- Contact the writer: (319) 3988318 or trish.mehaffey@ gazcomm.com

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